Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 11:06 p.m.

The weekend may have started off wet and soggy at Bubba Raceway Park but by the time the checkered flag dropped on Saturday night's festivities, Thursday night's washout was a distant memory.

Memories of the racing itself will be sweet for drivers including NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart, who left town feeling great about his experience at the dirt track owned by his friend, Bubba Clem.

“NASCAR is my job and I love it, but there's nothing like dirt track racing,” Stewart said. “And it's especially fun when the track is in this kind of shape. This was a blast.”

Stewart had high praise for Bubba Raceway Park, citing Clem and his team for “an amazing job here.

“The fans here in Ocala and in Central Florida are really lucky to have a track of this high standard that they can come to every week,” Stewart said. “Bubba has really gone above and beyond to make this a very fan-friendly venue. If fans haven't come out here and experienced firsthand they don't know what they're missing.”

Stewart, for all his starpower and success in NASCAR, was not among the weekend's winners, neither in qualifying nor racing.

Kyle Strickler turned the quickest of the weekend in the Modifieds and set a record of 16.244 (83.11 mph) around the 3/8-mile track, while Donny Schatz (11.982, 112.67 mph) and Daryn Pittman (11.840, 114.02 mph) set the pace in Sprints.

And though Schatz took home the bragging rights, with a sweep of both 410 Sprints features, it was his boss, Stewart, who stole the show. His appearance was unquestionably the highlight of the weekend for local fans.

On the track Stewart brought the crowd to its feet with a new track record of 12.03 seconds in the 410 Sprints qualifying session. Although Stewart's record time would eventually be broken Schatz and Pittman, his off-the-track presence was a win for his fans — who had access to meet-and-greet sessions both Friday and Saturday nights.

Clem, the famed Tampa radio personality who spends his down time hosting Marion County's racing community, watched his playground come to life with some of the largest crowds the speedway has ever hosted, thanks in large part to his good friend Stewart, who had to fly back to Charlotte, N.C., between Friday and Saturday's races to fulfill some NASCAR obligations.

“I really can't thank Tony enough for coming out this weekend,” Clem said. “He didn't just show up and race but he came out and put on a show for his fans. I don't think people really understand what it took for him to be here Saturday night.”

The high-profile features at Bubba Raceway Park will continue this weekend when the World of Outlaws Late Models move into town for Week 3 of Winter Nationals. The stakes will be higher than last week's with Sunday's winner pocketing $20,000 – the largest champion's purse of any Winter National event in Florida.

Action starts Thursday with World of Outlaws Late Models practice, followed by World of Outlaws Late Models and Hobby Stocks features Friday and Saturday.

<p>The weekend may have started off wet and soggy at Bubba Raceway Park but by the time the checkered flag dropped on Saturday night's festivities, Thursday night's washout was a distant memory.</p><p>Memories of the racing itself will be sweet for drivers including NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart, who left town feeling great about his experience at the dirt track owned by his friend, Bubba Clem.</p><p>“NASCAR is my job and I love it, but there's nothing like dirt track racing,” Stewart said. “And it's especially fun when the track is in this kind of shape. This was a blast.”</p><p>Stewart had high praise for Bubba Raceway Park, citing Clem and his team for “an amazing job here.</p><p>“The fans here in Ocala and in Central Florida are really lucky to have a track of this high standard that they can come to every week,” Stewart said. “Bubba has really gone above and beyond to make this a very fan-friendly venue. If fans haven't come out here and experienced firsthand they don't know what they're missing.”</p><p>Stewart, for all his starpower and success in NASCAR, was not among the weekend's winners, neither in qualifying nor racing. </p><p>Kyle Strickler turned the quickest of the weekend in the Modifieds and set a record of 16.244 (83.11 mph) around the 3/8-mile track, while Donny Schatz (11.982, 112.67 mph) and Daryn Pittman (11.840, 114.02 mph) set the pace in Sprints.</p><p>And though Schatz took home the bragging rights, with a sweep of both 410 Sprints features, it was his boss, Stewart, who stole the show. His appearance was unquestionably the highlight of the weekend for local fans.</p><p>On the track Stewart brought the crowd to its feet with a new track record of 12.03 seconds in the 410 Sprints qualifying session. Although Stewart's record time would eventually be broken Schatz and Pittman, his off-the-track presence was a win for his fans — who had access to meet-and-greet sessions both Friday and Saturday nights.</p><p>Clem, the famed Tampa radio personality who spends his down time hosting Marion County's racing community, watched his playground come to life with some of the largest crowds the speedway has ever hosted, thanks in large part to his good friend Stewart, who had to fly back to Charlotte, N.C., between Friday and Saturday's races to fulfill some NASCAR obligations.</p><p>“I really can't thank Tony enough for coming out this weekend,” Clem said. “He didn't just show up and race but he came out and put on a show for his fans. I don't think people really understand what it took for him to be here Saturday night.”</p><p>The high-profile features at Bubba Raceway Park will continue this weekend when the World of Outlaws Late Models move into town for Week 3 of Winter Nationals. The stakes will be higher than last week's with Sunday's winner pocketing $20,000 – the largest champion's purse of any Winter National event in Florida.</p><p>Action starts Thursday with World of Outlaws Late Models practice, followed by World of Outlaws Late Models and Hobby Stocks features Friday and Saturday. </p><p>Visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com for information.</p>